Potential exam questions for Soil Fertility #1

Warning: The following questions may be poorly worded and subjective. Exam questions will be worded differently. Exams may also contain questions not listed here.

1. What has been the general trend of fertilizer use in the US since 1950?
2. Why are fertilizers used? (2 reasons)
3. Aside from water, which element is the largest component of a plant?
4. Define Liebig's law of the minimum.
5. What do bacteria have to do with Nitrogen?
   
   
6. From what source do cultivated plants get most of their nutrients?
7. Name the 2 factors that determine the amount of fertilizer needed for any particular crop.
8. List 4 possible approaches to evaluating the fertility level
9. There are 7 categories for evidence of deficiencies (when they appear). Name them.
10. Name the type of relationship that exists between a Nutrient deficiencies and the symptoms?
11. Give three reasons why deficiency symptoms are not particularly useful for crop production.
12. Define Hidden Hunger
13. Describe 2 general causes for seasonal deficiencies
    1. Give 2 examples due to plant changes.
    2. Give an example due to climate
       
       
14. Why is it that a plant tissue analysis might tell something about the soil fertility level?
    1. Give 3 reasons why it may NOT.
15. Describe the 2 sources of material used to do a tissue test in the field
16. What anatomical part of the plant is used for taking tissue tests? Be exact
17. When testing crop plants, which leaf is generally the best to use? WHY?
18. Optimally, how often should tissue tests be done?
    1. If only 1 test is planned during the season, when should it be done?
19. Explain how plant growth evaluation can be used to indicate the soil fertility level
20. What is the general piece of information that a soil test provides?
21. Name 2 possible objectives of a soil test.
22. What is the goal of using GIS for fertilizer applications?
23. Indicate the general process involved in using Precision Agriculture (Site Specific Management)
    
    
24. What is meant by "growth" in a plant?
25. What 2 processes cause growth?
26. How many factors affect plant growth?
27. All of the factors can be categorized as either.....
28. Name 2 genetic factors that affect growth
    
    
29. What defines an "environmental" growth factor?
30. Name the three most important climatic growth factors.
31. How does high temperature affect the soil (2 ways)
32. Indicate how water might improve mineral uptake and how it might reduce mineral uptake.
    
33. Name three important attributes of soils for plant growth
34. How does soil structure / texture affect plants?(3 ways)
35. What is meant by soil "reaction"?
36. How does soil reaction affect soil fertility?
37. Name 3 Biotic factors that influence plant growth
    
    
38. For N, P, K, Ca, Mg S, Fe, B and Mn.
    1. Identify one primary form in which it is absorbed from the soil.
    2. Which nutrients ARE remobilized?
39. For N, P, K, Ca, Mg S, Fe and B.
    1. Name 1 specific deficiency effect it has on plants.
       
       
40. For N, P, K and Ca.
    1. Specify the quantity range usually found in the dry weight of the plant.
       
       
41. Identify the general effect of excess N fertilization. Name one specific effect.
42. How is the usage of K different from that of P or N.
43. Name 3 functions of K in the biochemistry of plants
44. What is the primary mechanism by which Ca is used in the biochemistry of plants? (Trick question)
    
    
45. Name 7 of the most common micronutrients
    
    
46. Give one use of Fe in the biochemistry of plants
47. Name one "disease" caused by B deficiency.
48. Why is B toxicity becoming a problem in grass plants (2 reasons)
49. Name one "disease" caused by Mn toxicity.